Detector apparatus



July 31, 1928. 1,679,310

A.A.KENT

DETECTOR APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1925 INVENTOR.

MAMM mmxm %g A TTORNEY.

Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR ATWATER KENT, OF ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DETECTOR APPARATUS.

Application filed May 28,

My invention relates to detector apparatus of the character employed in radio receiving apparatus for operation upon high frequency oscillations for effecting rectification, conversion of radio frequency into audio frequency currents, and other effects.

It is the object of myinvention to provide structure for mounting a detector element and for adjusting it to any position upon the exposed surface of a crystal or other solid detector element.

My invention resides in structure of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the various forms my apparatus may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the lines 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, on reduced scale.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the supporting structure before completion.

Fig. 6 is a view, in perspective, of one of the detector elements and its supporting member.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the parts.

- Referring to the drawing, 1 is a base or support, preferably molded of insulating material, such as bakelite, condensite or the like, which may, as indicated, constitute the' end closure of a structure having the side wall 2, integral with the base 1,-and provided with lugs 3 having holes 4, through which screws or the like may be passed for securing the structure to a table, panel or other support.

Secured to the base 1 are two metallic cups 5, as by screws 6 extending through the base 1 from the underside and threaded into the bottoms of the cups. Through the side walls of the cup extend screws 7, adapted to engage and hold or clamp the elements .8, of galena or other suitable material or combination of materials, such as commonly employed in solid or crystal detectors. The elements 8 are electrically connected together and to a binding post 9 by the conductor 10, connecting with both of the afore- 1923. Serial No. 641,835.

said screws 6 and with the screw 11 of the binding post 9. Extending above the base 1 and molded integral therewith are the hollow posts or bosses -12, closed at their upper ends by the integral end closures 13,- each provided with a recess 14, in which is guided the central lug or boss 15, preferably of diameter smaller than the diameter of recess 14, and integral with and projecting from the bottom of the rotatable button or mem ber 16, of metal or other suitable material, and having a transverse groove or slot 17, in which lies the metallic rod '18 having on its: one end the handle or knob 19,.which may be of molded insulating material, and at its other end having the lateral offset or laterally extending portion or member 20, into the end of which is threaded the screw 21 for clamping or binding to the end of the extension 20 the second detector element 22, of any suitable character or form, but which, in the, example illustrated, isa metallic wire'having a helical spring portion 23, which is compressible to exert pressure upon the extreme end of the member 22 at its point or region ofcontact with the detector element 8. The groove 17 in the member 16 may have a V-shaped or equivalently shaped bottom, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 7, whereby the rod 18 makes substantially only point contact with the bottom of the groove. It is preferred also, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7, that the groove be of greater depth at its center and of. least depth at or adjacent its opposite ends, whereby the rod 18 touches. the bottom walls of the groove only at its ends at or adjacent the periphery of the member 16 A third hollow post or boss 24, preferably integral with the base 1, extends upwardly therefrom from a position; substantially midway between the aforesaid bosses 12. In the upper end closure of the hollow boss 24 is molded the metallic insert 25, having the downwardly extending stem 26, to whose lower end is attached the conmotor 27 connecting with the screw 28 of the second binding post 29. As indicated in F ig. 5, the upper end of the insert25 is covered by the moldedmaterial having molded or formed therein the depression or print 30, concentric with the insert 25, to center a drill or indicate the position of a drill,

which drills a hole through the molding material above the insert 25 and drills a hole in the insert 25, which is then tapped.

to receive a screw 31, Figs. 1 and 2, to hold against the upper end of the boss 24 the metallic spring member 32 having positioning holes which receive the small lugs or bosses 33 molded integral with the upper end of the boss 2 1. The member 32 has its ends 34 somewhat rounded or concave to press downwardly upon the aforesaid rods 18, engaging them by substantially point contact to hold them in their grooves or slots 17 in any position to which adjusted, and serving also to hold members 16 in their laces.

The member 16 bears at its bottom upon the upper side of the boss 13, the lug 15 in the recess 14 serving as a guide to position the member 16. The rod 18 bears only at points separated longitudinally of the groove 17, and the spring 32 has substantially a point contact with the rod 13, Whereby there is in elfect a three point bearing for the rod 18, ensuring accuracy and nicety of ositioning and adjustment.

y the construction illustrated, both detector elements 22 are electrically connected to each other and with the binding post 29. through their rods 18, spring 32, screw 31, insert 25, stem 26 and conductor 27, it being understood, however, that either detector may be used alone.as by withdrawing one detector element 22 from contact with its co-acting detector element 8. or both detectors may simultaneously be used.

With structure of the character described, the detector element 22 is movable to any point upon the co-acting detector element 8 by rotating the rod 18 and its button or member 16 about a vertical axis, by moving the rod 18 longitudinally in the channel or groove 17 in the member 16, and by rotating the rod 18 about its own longitudinal axis, each of the rods 18, throughout all of its aforesaid movements, being held and electrically connected in circuit by the end 34 of the spring 32. The engagement between the end 34 of the spring 32 and the rod 18 is frictional, permitting, during exertion of pressure upon the rod by the spring. rotation of the rod about its longitudinal axis and with member 16, or longitudinal movement of the rod, the frictional engagement offering resistance to both the rotary and longitudinal movements, and the pressure of the spring, after adjustment has been effected, holding the rod, and therefore the detector element 22, in the position to which adjusted. By construction of this character, having the aforesaid mode of operation, the nice adjustment of the detector element 22 upon the detector element 8, essential to practical operation. is maintained undisturbed from and after the moment the desired adjustment is effected, since the rod 18 and the detector element 22 remain precisely in the position to which adjusted, and are not moved or disturbed therefrom, as may occur in case of structures involving clamping means or screws for applying the holding pressure after the adjustment has been made.

While the posts or bosses 12 and 24s are shown in al'gnment with each other. it will be understood that they may be disposed in any other suitable relative positions, as, for example, at the corners of a triangle, in which case the spring 32 will be V-shaped to correspond with two sides of the triangle.

\Vhat I claim is: y

1. In a detector, a member rotatable in but one plane and having a groove in a face thereof, a rod disposed in said groove for longitudinal and rotative movement therein, and a detector element carried by said rod.

2. In a detector, a base of molded insulating material, an integral upstanding boss thereon. said boss having a recess in its end, a rotatable member having a'lug eiztending into said recess, a second member carried by and rotatable with said rotatable member, and a detector element carried by said second member.

3. In a detector, a base of molded insulating material. an integral upstanding boss thereon, said boss having a recess in its end. a rotatable member having a lug extending into said recess, said rotatable member having a groove in the face thereof remote from said boss, a rod carried in said groove. and a detector element carried by sa d rod.

4. In a detector, a rotatable member having a. groove in a face thereof, a rod disposed in said groove, a spring engaging said rod and holding it in said groove. and a detector element carried by said rod.

In a detector, a member having a groove in a face thereof, a rod movable longitudinally in said groove, a leaf spring disposed over said groove and bearing against said rod. and a detector element'carried by said rod. i

6. In a detector, :1 member having a groove in a face thereof, a rod movable Iongitudinally in said groove, a spring having a convex surface extending transversely of and bearing upon said rod, and a detector element carried by said rod.

7. In a detector, a base of molded insulating material, an upstanding boss thereon integral therewith, an insert molded in said boss, a stem on said insert, an electrical connection to said stem, a detector element, a member carrying said element, and means secured to said insert engaging and holding said member.

8. In a detector, a base of molded insulating material, an upstanding boss thereon integral therewith, an insert molded in said boss, a pin carried by said boss, a member having an aperture receiving said pin, means engaging said insert for holding said member, a second member engaged and held by said member, and a detector element carried by said second member.

9. In a detector, a plurality of rotatable members spaced from each other, rods carried by said rotatable members, a detector element carried by each of said rods, a member engaging said rods, and a support for said member intermediate said rotatable members. a

10, In a detector, a plurality of rotatable members spaced from each other, rods carried by said rotatable members, a detector element carried by each of said rods, a leaf spring engaging said rods, and a support for said leaf spring intermediate said rotatable members.

11. In a detector, a plurality of rotatable members spaced from each other and each having a groove in the face thereof, rods disposed in said grooves, a detector element carried by each of said rods, a member extending over said grooves and engaging said rods, and a support for said member intermediate said rotatable members.

12. In a detector, a base of molded insulating material, bosses integral therewith, a rotatable member carried by each of said bosses, a rod co-acting With each of said rotatable members, a detector element carried by each of said rods, a leaf spring engaging said rods, and a support for said leaf spring comprising a boss integral With said base and disposed intermediate said first named bosses.

13. In a detector, a base of molded insulating material, a hollow boss integral therewith, an insert molded in the end of said boss and having a stem extending through the interiorof said boss, a supporting member, a support therefor, a detector element carried by said supporting member, a member engaging said supporting member, and means secured to said insert for securing said last named member to said boss.

14. In a detector, a rod, a detector element carried thereby, a support for said rod rotatable about a single axis and having an open groove, said rod having substantially point engagement With said groove at points spaced longitudinally of said groove, and resilient means pressing upon said rod to hold it in said open groove. 7

15. In a detector, a rod, a detector element carried thereby, a support for said rod having an open groove concaved longitudinally, said rod having substantially point engagement With said groove, and a spring having ARTHUR ATWATER KENT. 

